THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS (Special 100th Edition)

Introduction by A.A. Milne.

Limited edition: 178 pages, colour frontispiece tipped in, 11 tipped in colour plates, book sellers ticket on the front paste down end paper, original white calf boards, titled gilt on the spine - slightly worn at the top and bottom of it, top edge gilt, others uncut and largely unopened, original card slip case with printed title label worn at the edges, a very good copy.

The limitation reads: This book was first issued on October 8^th 1908, since when it has been reprinted in a variety of editions, illustrated and unillustrated, 99 times, This one hundredth edition, published in 1951, is printed on handmade paper and is limited to 500 copies of which this is is number 29.

In 1936 Arthur Rackham was approached by American publisher, George Macy about a commission to illustrate James Stephen’s The Crock of Gold. Rackham accepted this opportunity and told Macy that he could take on another commission as well. Macy suggested The Wind in the Willows, a particularly sentimental project for Rackham. Thirty years earlier, Rackham had been offered the opportunity to illustrate The Wind in the Willows, but had to decline the offer due to his deadline for A Midsummer Night’s Dream in 1908.

Rackham’s response to a letter from three children in 1909 (who wrote to him to ask if he planned to illustrate The Wind in the Willows) shows that he greatly regretted turning down the commission, and would cherish the opportunity to finally accept the offer. Rackham decided to begin illustrations for The Wind in the Willows before those for The Crock of Gold. Due to his failing health, the illustrations for The Wind in the Willows took him three years to complete. A perfectionist, Rackham would not rest until he was satisfied with the appearance of each illustration. The Wind in the Willows was Rackham’s last completed illustrated work before he died on September 6, 1939. It was published in 1940 by George Macy’s company, the Limited Editions Club, in New York City. It was not issued with the Rackham illustrations in the UK until 1950.

An obituary in London newspaper The Times described him as “one of the most eminent book illustrators of his day” with a special place in the hearts of children.
https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/arthur-rackham

Gettings (Fred) Arthur Rackham Appendix A page 181